Musician Sammy Hagar has publicly addressed disparaging comments made by former Van Halen bandmate Alex Van Halen, who recently characterized Hagar as a “complete idiot.” The exchange follows an interview conducted by Brazilian journalist Marcelo Vieira for Roadie Crew magazine, during which the drummer discussed the autobiographies of his former bandmates.
While Alex Van Halen offered praise for David Lee Roth’s memoir, he was dismissive of Hagar’s 2011 book, Red: My Uncensored Life In Rock, stating, “I don’t know what he wrote, and I don’t wanna know.” He then explicitly labeled Hagar a “complete idiot.”
After the remarks were circulated on social media via the account Rock Celebrities, Hagar issued a response on the platform. “This comment and post is so unnecessary at this time in our lives, but I guess the truth hurts sometimes,” Hagar wrote, adding, “Peace already.”
The public tension underscores a long-standing rift between the two musicians. In a 2025 interview with Rolling Stone, Hagar speculated that the animosity might stem from the financial success of Cabo Wabo, a nightclub company they once co-owned. Hagar claimed that after he bought out his bandmates in 1990, the business grew significantly in value, leading to potential resentment from the drummer. Hagar noted, “They gave me the damn thing, they walked out on me… and they made me sign off big time.”